The story of “The Lottery” is a dark tale that offers the reader a window into a community ruined by a tradition propagated by ignorance; sending a message that resonates with many events, ideas and observations throughout the annals of time. Written by the great Shirley Jackson, this fable exemplifies how delusion and illogical thinking led to the terrifying and dark end of Tessie Hutchinson's existence. Shirley Jackson was well known during her lifetime, but not necessarily as the literary master she is acclaimed today. Jackson had a great interest in the culture of witchcraft and deeply incorporated this knowledge into one of his first stories: "The Lottery". While this influence greatly enhanced the story's disturbing tone, it also spawned various rumors about Shirley Jackson herself, being a reclusive, studious woman interested in the dark arts. However, just as the “witches” of Salem were mercilessly killed for ambiguous reasons, so was Tessie Hutchinson. Shirley Jackson saw the reflection of these poor souls in our own lives and channeled their painful essence into a meticulous story that is as moving as it is haunting. This simple tale bleeds into the minds of its readers and blends into our perception of the world we know today. Eventually, the reader begins to connect the thought process and ideologies of the mentally deranged villagers within the story to those who exist or have existed in the real world. We begin to detach ourselves from our own society and see that the same way of thinking that generated these lotteries, held in the imaginary world, can have counterparts in the real world, which is the truly disturbing fragment of this story. While every person who reads this story... in the center of the paper... first impact, since the best way to persuade is to allow them to persuade themselves. In fact, the real crux of this story is this: think for yourself. Works Cited Bhob. "Potrzebie: Shirley Jackson's Lottery." Potrzebie. Np, June 1, 2008. Web. December 1, 2013. .Jackson, Shirley. Life among the savages. New York: Farrar, Straus and Young, 1953. Print. Joshi, S. T. The Modern Weird Tale. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2001. Print.Leyshon, Cressida. “This Week in Fiction: Shirley Jackson.” The New Yorker. JULY 29, 2013, July 29, 2013. Web. December 1, 2013. Murphy, Bernice M. Shirley Jackson: Essays on Literary Legacy. Jefferson, NC: McFarland &, 2005. Print.